Prosecuting Animal Cruelty: Getting Veterinarians on Your Team

Veterinary forensics is a developing field that can assist with animal cruelty investigations. Animal abuse investigations are vital because animal maltreatment is a co-occurring and central aspect of interpersonal violence. Animal care professionals, such as veterinarians, animal control officers, and humane law enforcement all have roles to play in the prevention, identification, and treatment of interpersonal violence. The co-occurrence of child abuse and domestic violence with animal abuse, and the significance of childhood animal abuse means that animal welfare overlaps with both family welfare and public safety. Veterinarians with training in veterinary forensics can be especially valuable to animal cruelty investigations. Dr. Smith-Blackmore will review the recent change to data collection by the FBI known as NIBRS and will present cases in the classification scheme used by the FBI - simple/gross neglect; intentional abuse and torture; organized abuse/fighting; and animal sexual abuse. Her presentation will focus on some of the subtleties to consider when classifying what subtype of animal cruelty should be recorded, offering case examples for discussion. Pointers for helping non-forensically trained veterinarians to help you will be covered.

Intended audience:Animal Cruelty Investigators, police, prosecutors, Frontline Staff, Middle Management, Senior Management/CEO, Board Members, Volunteers
CT - 6 hours of CEU's will be granted if all ACO/Field Services track sessions are attended

ME - 8 hours of CEU's will be granted if all ACO/Field Services track sessions are attended

MA - 1.5 credits for every session attended on the ACO/Field Services track